The Washington critic., 1887-02-23
THE DISTRICT POLICE FORCE.

The March number Of HdFper's
Mdgd:ine contains an article of great
interest on the New York Police De.
partment, which begins with the state.
ment that the New Workers religiously
believe they have the best police sys.
TEN and the finest police force in exist
cnce' and such was the opinion eX.
pressed in August last by lht Board Of
Aldermen. The force consists OF ..
933 mcr. of all ranks and grades, and
cost in 1ss5 S8,630,i2L The manage.
ment of the Department and the ascer-
tanned results OF its operations go far
towards corroborating the good opin.
ion which IL entertained of 1t by the
citizens of the Metropolis. The belief
that It is the finest is certainly well
warranted aud a source of pardonable
pride.
What is true of the chief metropolis
Of the country, as to the excellence aud
efficiency of its police organization,
should also be true of the police de.
partment of the seat of the National
Government, and nothing has hitherto
stood so much in the way of its be-
coming equal to the best as an made.
quate comprehension on the part Of
Congress of the needs which It is re-.
quired TO meet, and the relative i'm.
portancc it occupies to the general
police system of the Continent.
There is no trouble in finding the
proper material for the construction Of
n proper force. Good men are always
available for the service, and we have
ut the head of the department already
the executive ability requisite TO its
suitable control and discipline. What
Is next needed towards securing the
highest degree Of efficiency is the
numerical strength to sufficiently cover
the area to be protected.
The city of New York, with au esti.
mated population of 1850. 900, has one
police officer to every SOC of its inhab-
itants, which is conceded to be an in
sufficient supply. On this basis Wash.
ington should have 1868 men instead of
277. Boston has one policeman to
every 4Si inhabitants, which proper.
tion would give Washington over 400
men. Considering the large outlying
territory 10 be patrolled and the I'M
mensely valuable interests at risk in
the official and business heart of the
city, an allowance OF not less than 400
would no more than answer the exist
ing necessity.
1t is therefore encouraging to note
that Congress is now making fair pro.
gress in this direction. The House has
voted TO increase the force by fifty
privates, the Senate by seventy; and
as the latter comes so much nearer the
actual need than the former 1t Is TO be
hoped that whatever other compro-
mises may be made in conference over
the District Appropriation bill, the
larger number will be allowed TO stand.
In the opinion OF those best qualified
by knowledge and experience to Judge
of such matters not less than seventy
additional men are imperatively wanted
for the more effective intimidation
prevention and detection of crime in
this District.
AS to the ability of the present Su.
perintendent to handle the force, nc
matter how much 1t might be aug.
mented, with the skill of an old com.
mander, and 10 the continued improve.
ment of the service, we do not under.
stand that any question has ever been
raised. Let Congress, then, pursue O
liberal policy in this behalf. The
Police Department Of Washington
should not only be equal to the best,
but a model for all